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Ericka Andersen
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Leaving Cloud 9: The True Story of a Life Resurrected from the Ashes of Poverty, Trauma, and Mental Illness Kindle Edition

by Ericka Andersen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 195 ratings

A powerful, heartbreaking, and redemptive account of a boy who endured a childhood of poverty and abuse in an American Southwest trailer park named Cloud 9.

Abandoned by his father at age two, Rick Sylvester lived with an abusive mother whose struggles as a member of the working poor led her to drugs, alcohol, theft, and prostitution--and eventually attempted suicide. Rick battled depression, anxiety, and PTSD as the chaos, neglect, and unpredictability of his childhood seemed to doom him to follow in his mother's footsteps.

Well into adulthood, Rick stumbled through unemployment and divorce, using drugs and alcohol to numb the pain until he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Miraculously, though, he overcame the odds and today is a happy husband and father. How did this happen? Rick's answer is this: "It was the Lord."

A message of hope to those who are drowning from an undeserved childhood, Leaving Cloud 9 speaks to millions who grew up poor, feeling ignored and hopeless, and who need the healing power of God. This indelibly American story conveys the steadfast love of Jesus and his power to deliver us from the most devastating of pasts.

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  1. Print length
    269 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thomas Nelson
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    June 26, 2018
  6. File size
    2.8 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ericka Andersen is a freelance writer who also serves as the Digital Marketing Director at the Independent Women’s Forum and as a consultant for The Steamboat Institute. She previously wrote for, and was the Digital Director at, National Review magazine. Prior to that, she was the Digital Manager at the Heritage Foundation and worked in communications for Vice President Mike Pence at the GOP Conference. She attended Indiana University. She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband and son.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B077CVVWW2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas Nelson
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 26, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.8 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 269 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400208289
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 195 ratings

About the author

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Ericka Andersen

Ericka Andersen

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Ericka Andersen is a freelance writer, podcast host and owner of Pitch and Publish Writing Company. She is the author of "Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church & the Church Needs Women" and "Leaving Cloud 9: The True Story of a Life Resurrected From the Ashes of Poverty, Trauma and Mental Illness."

She has been published multiple times in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Washington Post and more. Ericka is a weekly columnist at WORLD Magazine and a freelance reporter for Christianity Today.

Prior to freelancing, Ericka worked for National Review Magazine, the Heritage Foundation and in communications for the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. She attended Indiana University and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband and two children.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
195 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this memoir an uplifting story of recovery from hardship, with one review highlighting its message of hope and redemption. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its readability and beauty. However, the story quality receives mixed reactions, with one customer noting there's too much commentary and not enough narrative. Additionally, the religious content draws mixed reactions from customers.

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43 customers mention "Uplifting story"40 positive3 negative

Customers find this memoir uplifting and inspiring, describing it as a beautiful story of recovery from hardship.

"...of a broken young man becoming aware of his unmet needs, addressing the deep heart issues, and forming a loving, functional family after years of..." Read more

"This book is incredible. Not only is it an amazing story of a culture many of us know nothing about, but it teaches us about love, forgiveness, the..." Read more

"...This indelibly American story conveys the steadfast love of Jesus and his power to deliver us from the most devastating of pasts...."" Read more

"...This story is an eye-opening account into the reality of so many children in this country, as well as the toll that drugs, alcohol, and issues with..." Read more

14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book incredibly readable, praising its great production on the CD and noting that its grace is even more amazing.

"This book is incredible...." Read more

"Modern day miracle. Well written. Great production on the CD......"...A message of hope to those who are drowning from an undeserved childhood,..." Read more

"This book is a great read...." Read more

"I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved how Ericka brought everything back to God...." Read more

4 customers mention "Beauty"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one describing it as a beautiful depiction of our Alpha and Omega.

"...and his unconditional love, Rick has found hope, love and his beautiful children. I could not put this book down...." Read more

"...The ending...lets just say, a beautiful depiction of our Alpha and Omega." Read more

"A raw and honest look inside a life unfamiliar to my own, it gave me a perspective of a world I now feel I have a better understanding of." Read more

"Beautiful...." Read more

4 customers mention "Religious content"2 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the religious content of the book, with some appreciating it as an educational non-fictional read, while others find it overly religious and preachy.

"A heart wrenching, and educational non-fictional read that depicts brokenness of an innocent child and family through socio-econimical trials, and..." Read more

"...but she failed to mention how this book is written with a very heavy “Christian” perspective...." Read more

"...Is a good book to show and read to students in similar fields" Read more

"Preachy and repetitious . Author more interested in criticizing her mother in law than anything else...." Read more

5 customers mention "Story quality"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the story quality of the book unsatisfactory, with one customer noting it contains more commentary than narrative, while others describe it as repetitive and boring.

"Repetitive and rambling. I had high hopes as it was recommended by a friend. But I found that every chapter was more or less the same...." Read more

"...This book has very little show, mostly tell. I am sad because the story, again, is brave, interesting and important." Read more

"...but I gave up halfway through this book because it was hard to engage in the story, then have to disengage to scan past the religious preaching..." Read more

"Preachy and repetitious . Author more interested in criticizing her mother in law than anything else...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Darcy Wiley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring redemption story and real-life look at the people behind the statistics
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Ericka Andersen takes us beyond statistics and talking points and helps us picture the issues of the drug crisis, poverty, and childhood trauma by telling the ultra personal story of her husband’s rise from the dust of an old trailer park. This is an amazing testimony of a broken young man becoming aware of his unmet needs, addressing the deep heart issues, and forming a loving, functional family after years of being deprived of his mother’s love and the most basic of resources. Leaving Cloud 9 will help people empathize with those in poverty/trauma and discover a hopeful picture of how an individual can emerge. The scenes are compellingly written even if the stories are hard to hear. Even readers from less traumatic backgrounds may find traces of themselves in the text and be able to picture new possibilities on the road to healing. It’s also helpful to note that we need to make space for people to continue working through issues as old shards of trauma come to the surface even after much progress. Ericka successfully blends her husband’s personal redemption story with research on the realities our nation is facing on a large scale today. What does it look like for an underprivileged child to grow up out of his plight and break through the statistics? Leaving Cloud 9 tells the story. An inspiring read for anyone who wants to exercise their hope muscles.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Heather
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not only is it an amazing story of a culture many of us know nothing ...
    Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book is incredible. Not only is it an amazing story of a culture many of us know nothing about, but it teaches us about love, forgiveness, the ability to strive, and the ability to change. Ericka does an amazing job of intertwining Rick's story with current research and data on a subset of the poor that is rarely talked about. She does so in a poetic way that has my book covered in highlighter of one-liners that I hope to live by, or that I found to be incredibly motivational. 5 stars isn't enough for the writing, the story, and the courage it must have taken for both Rick and Ericka to put their lives on display for us all to learn something from. I would definitely recommend reading this book, and I would especially recommend it for ANYONE who has suffered a childhood trauma or is in a relationship with someone who has.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Mark W. Bender
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great production on the CD
    Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Modern day miracle. Well written. Great production on the CD......"...A message of hope to those who are drowning from an undeserved childhood, Leaving Cloud 9 speaks to millions who grew up poor, feeling ignored and hopeless, and who need the healing power of God. This indelibly American story conveys the steadfast love of Jesus and his power to deliver us from the most devastating of pasts...."
    One person found this helpful
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  • Mary Ellen M. Beatty
    5.0 out of 5 stars Leaves the reader reflecting on how we can do better by children in our society
    Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Leaving Cloud 9 is a redemption story, following the life of the author's husband who was exposed to extreme family dysfunction, drug abuse, mental illness and worse during his childhood. It was emotionally difficult to read at times because the long lasting hurt and trauma is so palpable, and the descriptive writing makes you feel every new struggle. But I was compelled to keep reading to find out how the main character, Rick, was able to break out of a destructive family cycle. The author is real. She does not oversell one's ability to rise up and overcome. It's just the opposite. She outlines statistics and data to show how the odds are stacked so high against children in these adverse circumstances that often times they do not have the resources or support network to live a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle. This realization softens the heart and leaves the reader more compassionate and caring toward those who are disadvantaged from the very start. The story leaves the reader reflecting on how society (and even the church) has failed these people and how we collectively can do better for and by them.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Stephanie S
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Redemptive Story
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Leaving Cloud 9 is a gripping story of one man’s troubled upbringing in poor white America and his journey to stability and success through God’s grace and redemption. This story is an eye-opening account into the reality of so many children in this country, as well as the toll that drugs, alcohol, and issues with mental health can have in a child and family for generations. It also highlights the immense impact even one loving adult can have on a child’s life. It’s told from the interesting perspective of Rick’s wife and the truth of God’s love and persistence, even when we don’t see it, is beautifully woven throughout. The reader is left with hope for healing and change both in Rick’s life and their own with the power of God, determination, and a the support of a loving few.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Annabelle's Niece
    3.0 out of 5 stars Repetitive
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Repetitive and rambling. I had high hopes as it was recommended by a friend. But I found that every chapter was more or less the same. There was no progression. Just one miserable year after another. The mother was clearly unable to parent two children, had obvious mental issues. Most of the book seemed to be about her and her failings. By chapter 15 (after 14 chapters chronicling a deeply disturbing progression of men and child abuse) I gave up. It didn't seem to be heading toward a resolution. Only more pain and misery. I hope that the author's husband and family have found some kind of peace after all they've endured. But I had to put it down.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Anne
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you are looking for something to ignite and uplift your spirit, this is the book for you.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a great read. The latest research on combating PTSD and the powerful ability for the brain to rewire itself has been a popular subject, however, the fact that this book connects ideas about healing trauma systems by example was very uplifting. The author tells the true story of how childhood trauma effects her family by shining an inspirational light on how people do have the ability to change the course of their future. Although her husband used his faith to overcome his trauma, you don't have to be super religious to enjoy this book. If you are looking for something to ignite and uplift your spirit, this is the book for you.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Alyson Swartzendruber
    4.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2018
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    Very inspiring, he was born with nothing, had a horrible childhood and that continued through adulthood. He overcame it all to become a husband and father with no role models because his father had left them and his mom was a train wreck!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mike T
    5.0 out of 5 stars inspiring story
    Reviewed in Australia on August 7, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    this was a great and inspiring read. To come from such a broken and damaged background, with such a flawed mother, and end up as a successful man is a credit to him and his God. And it's clear that his wife, who wrote the book, loves and admires him. And she is very aware of the intrinsic part God played in her husbands life.
    Heartily recommend this book.
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  • Dennis L.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great story of God's grace!
    Reviewed in Canada on August 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Amazing story of how Rick could come from such a troubled childhood and become the man of God he is today. I would have preferred the story written in Rick's own words to really feel like you are entering in his world rather than being told about him.
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